Abstract
The weatherability of vinylon was found to be superior to that of other chemical fibers except acrylic. Formalized vinylon degraded more quickly than unformalized vinylon, and the percent retention of the breaking strength during outdoor exposure decreased in proportion to the degree of formalization. Titanium dioxide increased the degradation rate of vinylon. Dyestuff, coating resin or other finishing materials which were used in wet processing of vinylon improved weatherability of vinylon in most cases. Vinylon could last several years in outdoor exposure when it was covered with durable colored synthetic rubber or resin such as chloroprene rubber or polyvinyl chloride. The test results with violet carbon-arc fade-meter and xenon-arc fade-meter were found more or less reliable, compared with the test results of actual outdoor exposure. Comparison of ultra violet spectra of polyvinylalcohol films exposed outdoors, in the fade-meter, and in the light of specific wave length, gave a probable explanation for the observed results.
